SPEC PTDaemon Tool

The SPEC PTDaemon tool is used to control benchmarks that contain a power measurement component. This tool controls the power analyzers and is updated as needed to support new analyzers and features. The current version is V1.8.1, released on May 25th, 2017.

The SPEC PTDaemon tool is distributed as part of selected SPEC licensed software; SPECpower_ssj® 2008, SERT™ tool and SPECvirt_sc® 2013. Each benchmark has its own independent requirement for a minimum version of the PTDaemon tool.

For other benchmarks which use
PTDaemon tool, please visit the benchmark's website to determine the minimum valid
version to use.

Device Ordering
Considerations

Multiple SPEC benchmarks provide infrastructure software to
connect, control, and collect data from power and temperature
measurement devices. All measurement devices must be equipped
with at least one of the
communication interfaces supported by the benchmark.

When
ordering devices, be aware that some
of these devices can be ordered in multiple configurations,
including configurations with no interface or an unsupported
communication interface. Only base configurations of the devices
listed below are supported and must include a supported communications
interface. Additional options such as external current
transformers are presently not supported. Please contact SPEC
support if you have questions.

Power analyzers are available with wide ranges of capabilities and
capacities. Computer systems have a wide range of power
requirements. Global standards for line voltage are quite
different from one country to another. Therefore, users should be
aware that any one combination of the three above contributing factors
may not provide the capability or required accuracy to measure very
high or sometimes very low power.

The analyzers listed below have been tested and found to function well
for a relatively narrow range of power provider and power consumption
conditions, essentially for volume server class computers in the one to
four socket range, including similar blade configurations.
The list of accepted power analyzers
below also indicates which analyzers have specific limitations
that impact compliance with the run and reporting rules for
SPEC benchmarks. When using one of these analyzers, one must
ensure that the listed limitations are not violated.
Results will be invalidated in cases where one of these analyzers was
used and the System Under Test (SUT) exceeded the current limits of said
analyzer.

SPEC recommends that the user consult with a qualified electrical engineer prior to purchase of a power analyzer.

BE SURE to read, understand, and
follow all
of the safety rules and installation instructions that come with your
power
analyzer and system under test (SUT).

PLEASE NOTE: No current sensors or shunts external to the analyzer are allowed in submissions.
They must be either disabled or removed. Also, auto ranging cannot be used. This applies to all analyzers.

Minimum firmware revision required is v1.11.In the
case where an external current sensor option is installed, it must be disabled, and, in this scenario, the minimum PTDaemon tool version required is
v1.3.10.

Can be used in 1-Channel, 3-Channel or 3-Phase mode. Please check to see if your benchmark harness supports multichannel modes yet.

1-Channel

v1.3.9

Only the use of one channel at a time is supported.

3-Channel

v1.5.0

Not yet supported by SPECpower_ssj2008.

3-Phase

v1.5.0

Requires using the summation feature for 3 channels so as to appear as a single "virtual" channel to the SPEC PTDaemon tool .
SPECpower_ssj2008 v1.10 only supports cases where identical range settings are used for all channels.

Can be used in 1-Channel, 4-Channel or 3-Phase mode. Please check to see if your benchmark harness supports multichannel modes yet.

1-Channel

v1.0

Only the use of one channel at a time is supported.

4-Channel

v1.4.0

Not yet supported by SPECpower_ssj2008.

3-Phase

v1.4.0

Requires using the summation feature for 3 channels so as to appear as a single "virtual" channel to the SPEC PTDaemon™ tool.
SPECpower_ssj2008 v1.10 only supports cases where identical range settings are used for all channels.

Can be used in 1-Channel, 4-Channel or 3-Phase mode. Please check to see if your benchmark harness supports multichannel modes yet.

1-Channel

v1.2

Only the use of one channel at a time is supported.

4-Channel

v1.4.1

Not yet supported by SPECpower_ssj2008 benchmark.

3-Phase

v1.4.1

Requires using the summation feature for 3 channels so as to appear as a single "virtual" channel to the SPEC PTDaemon tool.
SPECpower_ssj2008 benchmark v1.10 only supports cases where identical range settings are used for all channels.

A process exists for a SPEC member or licensee to add software support
for a power analyzer to the SPEC benchmark infrastructure and to submit
tests for review and possible inclusion by SPEC as an accepted
device. Please see the Power
Analyzer Acceptance Process document for the acceptance
process.